BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

A month after Hurricane Sandy devastated the New Jersey shore, debris from the storm still remains in the area’s coves and waterways.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is aware of the issue, but it is not certain if or when the debris will be cleaned.

Brick Mayor Stephen Acropolis expressed concerns about stranded boats that can leak gas and oil into environmentally sensitive bay areas. According to NBC New York, the Coast Guard says Barnegat Bay channels are unobstructed, but they were not certain about many recreational boating areas.

Meanwhile, large piles of trash are still lining the streets of many communities. Larry Hajna of the DEP said smaller piles of garbage were being taken to about 125 “temporary debris management areas” in New Jersey,according to mycentraljersey.com.

He said larger piles are moved to “environmentally responsible areas,” like abandoned sites or parking lots, where hazardous waste is removed and recyclables are collected.

The Ocean County Landfill is accepting about three times its normal maximum amount of trash.

Environmental group Clean Ocean Action, based in Highlands, is looking to improve the water quality of the Jersey Shore waters. The group’s website says they will identify the sources of pollution and fight them through public education and citizen action.

Clean Ocean Action is seeking volunteers for a rebuilding, recovering, and restoration program that begins with a “ Waves of Action” cleanup day on Dec. 8. You can sign up for a project here .